Windshield cleaner



July 3, 1928.

F. G. FOLBERTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Oct. 51, 1923 2Sheets-Sheet mung;

Suva-M l'oid July 3, 1928.

F. G. FOLBERTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fil ed Oct. a1,1923 gnvcnh u minimum Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. FOLBERTH AND WILLIAM M. FOLBERTH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, AS-SIGNORS TO TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORA-TION OF NEW YORK.

WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

Application filed October 31, 1923. Serial No. 671,937.

This invention relates to windshield cleaners, and more particularl tovalve actuating mechanism for windshie d cleaner motors.

An object of the invention is to provide a cleaner motor having atransversely arranged, centrally disposed cleaner shaft and a diskfreely mounted concentric with the shaft and adapted to be engaged by amovable part of the cleaner to actuate the valves to alternately connectopposite ends of the cleaner motor to a source of suction or pressure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of snap over valvemechanism of simple construction, operated by a segmental gear carriedby the cleaner shaft through which power is transmitted from the movableelement of the cleaner motor to the shaft.

A further object is the provision of an arm for carrying the valve,which arm is actuated by the disk mounted on the cleaner shaft and stopsto limit the movement of the arm to properly position the valve.

In the present invention, we employ a closure plate of the typedisclosed and claimed in our Letters Patent N 0. 1,570,598 granted Jan.19, 1926 which is arranged intermediate the ends of the cleaner motorand which supports the valve and valve actuating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown one embodiment of theinvention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the motor casing with the closureplate and valve mechanism removed,

.Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing the device inposition on a windshield,

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View on line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the closure plate and valve mechanismremoved,

Figure 5 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional View, v

Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the motor casing, parts beingshown in section,

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the closure plate,

Figure 8 is a detail view of the operating disk and an arm associatedtherewith, and,

Figure 9 is a. similar view of the valve supporting arm.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the casingof the motor which, as shown, ma be cylindrical and which is providedwith cylinder heads 2, arranged at opposite ends and retained inposition by means of suitable fastening elements 3, received in openingsin enlargements 4, formed on the ends of the cylinder. A pair of pistonsare arranged within the cylinder and suitably spaced from each other.Each of the pistons consists of disks 5, formed of any suitablematerial, and a strip of suitable packing material 6 is arranged betweenthe disks. The packing material is of larger diameter than the in teriordiameter of the cylinder, forming a flange 7. The parts of the pistonare secured to each other by means of a centrally arranged screw 8. Aconnecting member 9 is arranged between the pistons and this connectingmember is provided with inclined portions 10, adjacent each end, Theends of the connecting member are arranged at right angles to the bodyportion, as indicated at 11, and are provided with suitable openings forthe reception of the fastening elements 8, whereby the pistons areconnected to each other and maintained in spaced relation. The bodyportion of the connecting member is provided with spaced openings 12,forming a rack for the transmission of power from the pistons.

The cylinder is provided with a relatively large opening arrangedintermediate its ends, and this opening is provided with fiat faces 13.A closure plate 14 is adapted to be arranged over this opening. Theclosure plate is provided with openings 15, arranged adjacent eachcorner for the reception of suitable fastening elements which arereceived in openings 16 in the flat faces of the cylinder opening. Theclosure plate is provided With an enlargement 17 on its inner face andis further provided with horizontally disposed ribs 18, extending fromeach side of the enlargement. The bottom of the enlargement 17 isprovided with a rib 17' adapted to be received in a slot 18' in thecylinder when the closure plate is placed in position. Conduits 19 arearranged on the ex terior of the cylinder, the conduits being protheshaft extends through this sleeve.

vided with passages 20, communicating with transverse ports 21 in theends of the cylinder. The inner ends of the conduits are beveled, as at22, and the adjacent side faces of the closure plate and the ribs arebeveled, as at 23, to fit the beveled ends of the conduits. The ribbedportions of the closure plate are provided with passages 24, adapted toregister with the ends of the passages 20 and these passages in turncommunicate with transverse passages 25, extending inwardly through theenlargement 17 to its inner face. Between the fluid ports or passages25, there is provided a fluid port or passage 26, which communicateswith a vertical passage 27, extending to the bottom of the closureplate. The lower end of this passage is enlarged and threaded to receivea coupling 28. This coupling is provided with a valve seat adapted to beengaged by a valve 29. The valve 29 is provided with screw threadsadapted to engage threads formed in an opening in an enlargement 30,formed on the coupling. The coupling isprovided with an inlet passage 31and a flexible tube (not shown) is adapted to be arranged over the inletopening to communicate with a suitable source of suction or pressuresuch as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine (notshown).

A cleaner shaft 32 is arranged in an opening in the closure plate andenlargement 17. As shown, the enlargement is provided with a sleeve 33,extending into the cylinder anil plate 34 is secured to the inner end ofthe shaft, the shaft being provided with a squared portion 35, adaptedto be received in a square opening in the plate to rigidly secure theplate to the shaft. This plate is arcuate shaped and is provided withteeth 36, adapted to mesh with the openings 12 in the connecting member9. Beyond the shaft, the plate is provided with an angular portion 37,arranged over the sleeve 33. The sleeve is provided with a plurality ofspaced lugs 38, arranged in pairs, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings,forming a groove be- Gil tween them.- A spring positioning member in theform of a disk 39 is mounted over the sleeve, the disk or ring-likeplate being provided with a central opening 40, substantially the samesize as the diameter of the sleeve and being provided with recesses 41to permit the disk to pass over the outer set of lugs 38 and be arrangedin the groove between the lugs. The upper edge of the disk is providedwith a reduced portion 42, forming shoulders 43, adapted to be engagedby the angular member 37 thereby forming a play connection therewith.The bottom of the disk is provided with an opening 44, and the edge ofthe disk on each side of the opening is provided with cut-out portions45. A substantially T-shaped arm 46 is operatively connected to thedisk. As shown, the upper end of the arm is provided with a pin 47,adapted to be received in the opening 44 in the disk. The arm 46 isprovided with transverse arms or shoulders 48 arranged on one side ofthe disk in the same vertical plane with the inner set of lugs 38. Thevalve supporting member comprises a substantially U-shaped arm 49,having an opening 50 in its base portion for the reception'of the lowerend of the arm 46. The upper ends of this member are provided withcircular portions 51, having openings 52 adapted to loosely lit thesleeve 33. A spring 53 is arranged over the arm 46 between thetransverse portions 48 and the base of the valx e supporting member 49.A valve stem 54 is mounted in a suitable opening in one of the arms ofthe valve supporting member and this valve stem carries a cup-shapedvalve 55, adapted to fit over the end of the passage 26 and the end ofeither of the passages 25, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. Aspring 57 is arranged around the valve stem to retain the valve inengagement with the face of the enlargement 17.

The shaft 32 projects a slight distance outside of the motor and isadapted to pass through a windshield frame 58. The windshield frame isof the usual construction and is adapted to receive and support awindshield 59 of glass or other transparent material. A cleaner arm 60is secured to the shaft, the cleaner arm being preferably formed of-resilient material to permit adjustment toward the face of thewindshield. A retaining device 61 is arranged on the lower end of thecleaner arm and a cleaner member is mounted therein. The cleaner memberconsists of a backing strip 62 of metal or other rigid material and aflexible strip 63 of rubber or the like. On each side of the shaft, theclosure plate is provided with threaded openings 64, adapted to receivebolts 65 (see Figure 6) which pass through the windshield frame tosupport the motor casing.

In operation, the motor casing is connected to a source of suction orpressure through the coupling 28, and the inlet passages 26, 27. Thevalve 55 is adapted to be shifted to alternately connect the inletpassage to either of the passages 25 and thus create differentialpressure in the ends of the cylinder to move the pistons. The m0vementof the pistons is transmitted to the cleaner shaft through theconnecting member 9 and the segmental gear 34 to oscillate the shaft andswing the cleaner arm in an arc of a circle over the front of thewindshield. With the parts in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 ofthe drawings, the pistons are moving toward the right, approaching theend of a stroke and the segmental gear is turning in a counter clock- 8of the drawings and moves the disk in a counter clockwise direction. TheT-shaped arm 46 is moved with the disk and as it approaches theperpendicular position, the dis tance between the head of the T and thebase of the valve supporting arm 49 is reduced, placing the spring 53under compression. As the spring passes the center line, the

' force of the spring is exerted in an opposite direction to swing thevalve supporting arm in a clockwise direction and shift the valve to aposition covering the left port 25 and the passage 26. This connects theopposite end of the cylinder to the source of suction and the pistonsthen move in a reverse direction.

sSuitable stops 66 are arranged on the inner face of the enlargement andthese stops are engaged by the valve supporting member 49 to limit itsmovement and thus properly position the valve at its limit of movementin either direction. The transverse arms 48 of the T-shaped memberengage the lugs 38, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings at the end ofeach stroke to limit the movement of the T-shaped member on its pivot.The cutout portions 45 on the outer'edge of the disk receive the spring53 when the arm 46 swings to its limit of movement in either direction,as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors comp-rising apivotally mounted plate, means having a play connection with said platecontrolled by the movement of the piston of the motor to oscillate saidlate, an arm pivotally connected to said plate, a pivotally mountedvalve supporting member connected to said arm, a valve supportedthereby, and a spring arranged on said arm and engaging said member,said spring being compressed when said plate and said arm are oscillatedto move said valve supporting member and shift said valve.

2. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors comprising apivotally mounted plate, means controlled by the movement of the pistonto oscillate said plate, an arm pivoted at one end on said plate andhaving a stop-engaging shoulder for limiting the relative movementbetween said plate and said arm, a pivotally mounted valve supportingmember connected to said arm, a valve supported thereby, and a springarranged on said arm and engaging said valve supporting member, saidspring being compressed when said plate and said arm are oscillated tomove said valve supporting member and shift said valve.

3. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors comprising asupport, a pivotally mounted plate thereon, means controlled by themovement of the piston to oscillate said plate, a substantially T-shapedarm pivotally connected to said plate and having stop-engaging means forabutting the support to limit the movement of said plate, asubstantially U-shaped valve supporting member pivotally mountedadjacent said plate, the base of said valve supporting member beingprovided with an opening through which said arm passes, a valve carriedby said valve supporting member, and a spring arranged on said arm abovesaid vaive supporting member whereby movement of said arm will compresssaid spring and move said supporting member to shift said valve.

4. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors comprising apivotally mounted disk, the edge of" said disk being provided with areduced portion forming shoulders, said shoulders being adapted to beengaged by a movable part of the cleaner motor to oscillate said disk,an arm pivotally connected to said disk, a pivotally mounted valvesupporting member connected to said arm, a valve carried thereby, and aspring arranged on said arm and engaging said valve supporting member,said spring being compressed by the movement of said disk to move saidvalve supporting member and shift said valve.

5. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors comprising apivotally mounted disk, the edge of said disk being provided with arecess forming shoulders, said shoulders being adapted to be engaged bya movable art of the motor to oscillate said disk, a su stantiallyT-shaped arm pivotally connected to said disk, a pivotally mounted valvesupporting member connected to said arm, a valve carried by said member,and a spring surrounding said arm and engaging said valve supportingmember, said spring being compressed by the oscillation of said disk tomove said valve supporting member and shift said valve.

6. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors comprising apivotally ,mounted disk, said disk being provided with a reduced portionforming shoulders adapted to be engaged by a movable part of the motorto operate said disk, a substantially T-sh'aped arm pivotally connectedto said disk, a pivotally mounted substantially U-shaped valvesupporting member arranged around said disk and said arm, the base ofsaid member being provided with an opening through which the end of saidarm passes, a valve carried by said valve supporting member, and aspring arranged on said arm above said supporting member, said sprinbeing compressed by the 0scillation 0 said disk to move said supportingmember and shift said valve.

Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors, comprising asupport, a valve carrier pivotally suspended thereon, a spring supportedat its outer end by the valve carrier, and a spring positioning memberconnected to the inner end of the spring and suspended on said supportcoaxially with the valve carrier, operating means for said positioningmember having a play connection therewith and oscillated by a movingpart of the windshield cleaner motor, said inner end of the spring beingmovable by said positioning member about an are between the support andsaid outer end of the spring whereby said spring will be initiallycompressed and then relaxed as said positioning member carries its innerspring end back and forth from one side to t e other side of the planewhich extends radially from the support through the outer end of thespring, and means for limiting the extent of oscillations of saidpositioning member.

8. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motor casingpart having a sleeve, a shaft journaled in the sleeve, means to rock theshaft from a moving part of the motor, a valve shiftable from and to twopositions for effecting operation of the motor, a valve carrier pivotedon the sleeve and engaging the valve to move it back and forth, aspring, a spring positioning member pivoted on the sleeve coaxially withthe valve carrier and oscillatable from a moving part of the motor, saidspring connecting at one'end to its positioning member and at the otherend to said valve carrier, said positioning member acting to shift itsend of the spring under compression from one side to the other side ofthe radial plane including the pivotal axis of said valve carrier andthe point of connection between the spring and the valve carrier, andmeans for limiting the extent of oscillation of said positioning member.

9. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motor casingpart having a face with ports for the application of operating fluidpressure to the motor and a sleeve projecting beyond the ported face, arock shaft journaled in the sleeve and operable by a moving part of themotor, a positioning member oscillatable on the sleeve from said rockshaft through a play connection therewith, a valve cooperating with theported face, a valve carrier also oscillatable on the sleeve, springmeans connecting the positioning member to the valve carrier and movingby said positioning member to opposite sides of said carrier and meanscoacting with and engageable by said spring means for limiting thedegree of oscillation of said positioning member.

10. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors, comprisinga' support, a plate pivotally mounted thereon, means operable by amoving art of the motor and having a play connection with the plate foroscillating the same, an arm pivoted to the plate, a substantiallyU-shaped valve carrier pivotally engaged on said support on oppositesides of said late and having an opening in its base slidably receivingthe arm, a valve carried by said valve carrier, and a spring arranged onthe arm and compressible on said base upon movement of the arm acrossthe plane of said carrier by said plate whereby energy is stored up inthe spring to shift the carrier after said arm is moved beyond the planeof said carrier.

11. A snap action valve mechanism for fluid pressure motors, comprisinga casing part having a valve seat and an adjacent overhanging supportprovided with spaced lugs, a valve engaged with the valve seat, a valvecarrier member and a positioning member both having openings by whichthey may be passed over said support for having bearing support thereon,the opening of one of said members being slightly larger than thesupport and enlarged at intervals to pass over the spaced lugs andpermit said member being interlocked behind said lugs againstdisplacement from said support, an arm pivoted to said valve carriermember with the enlarged opening and having a shouldered part foralternate engagement with the spaced lugs for limiting the oscillatorymovement of said member with the enlarged opening, said latter memberduring its oscillation moving the pivot of the arm back and forth acrossthe other of said members, one of said members being movable back andforth by a moving part of the motor, and a spring interposed betweensaid members for normally urging them in opposite directions about thesuprt. 12. Valve actuating mechanism for windshield cleaner motors,comprising a support, a plate having an opening to receive said supportwhereby aid plate may be pivotally mounted on the support, said platebeing oscillatable by a moving part of the motor, said support havingspaced lugs on its exterior and the opening of said plate having radialenlargements to permit of said plate passing over said lugs, an armpivoted to the plate and having a shouldered part for alternatelyengaging with said lugs, a valve carrier ivotally mounted on saidsupport and having a portion extending radially be yond the plate, saidam; beingslidably engaged with said valve carrier portion, a

valve carried by said valve carrier, and a spring encircling said armand compressible t ereon upon movement of the arm across said carrier bysaid plate.

13. A fluid pressure motor comprising a casing, a piston operabletherein, a valve 'seat having spaced ports communicating with theinterior of the casing on opposite sides of the piston, a bearing sleeveextending into the casing, a shaft journaled in the sleeve, a membercarried by the shaft and operable by the piston, and automatic valvemechanism operable by said member for connecting each of said ports inalternation to differential pressures, said valve mechanism comprising avalve engaging said valve seat, a valve carrier supporting the valve andsuspended from said sleeve for oscillatory movement, means for limitingthe oscillation of said carrier, spaced lugs on the pe riphery of saidsleeve, a ring-like plate having radial depressions on its innerperiphery for passing over the sleeve and lugs for permitting themounting of said plate on the sleeve behind said lugs, an arm pivoted atone end to the plate and having its opposite end slidably engaged withsaid valve carrier, said arm having oppositely extending shoulders foralternately engaging with respective ones of said lugs for limiting theoscillation of said plate, said plate being oscillated byand duringmovement of said member, and a spring encircling the arm andcompressible thereby against the valve carrier. o

14. In a fluid pressure motor, a support, a valve carrier and apositioning member both oscillatably and coaxially mounted on thesupport, means having a play connection with said positioning member foroscillating the same, resihent means connecting said carrier and saidpositioning member and movable under tension by the latter into andbeyond the plane of coincidence with said carrier member whereby thecompressed resilient means will expand and act to oscillate said carriermember and said positioning member in opposite directions, and stopmeans engageable by a part of said resilient means for limiting theoscillatory movement of both said carrier and said positioning members.

15. A fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, comprising a casinghaving an op'en side, a closure therefor having a sleeve and fluidports, a rock shaft journaled in the sleeve, a piston movable in thecasing for actuating the rock shaft, and automatic valve mechanism foroperatively admit-ting operating fluid pressure through said ports intothe casing for moving the piston, said valve mechanism comprising apositioning member oscillatable on and about the sleeve by said rockshaft, a valve, a valve carrier oscillatable on the sleeve for movingthe valve to control the admission of fluid pressure through the fluidports, and a spring device connecting a part of the positioning memberto the valve carrier and compressible by and during movement of saidpart and said spring device into radial coincidence whereby energy willbe stored up in the spring for expenditure in efl'ectin a valve shiftingoscillation of the carrier a ter said part of the positioning memberpasses said radial coincidence.

16. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motorcasingpart having fluid ports and a projecting support, a valvecooperating with said ports for admitting operating fluid pressure tothe motor, a positioning member mounted on said support for oscillatorymovement by and during operation of t e motor, a valve carrier mountedon said support and having a spring supporting part disposed radiallyfrom and outward beyond said positioning member, means for oscillatingthe positioning member having a play connection therewith to permit ofindependent movement thereof, and a spring connected to the positioningmember and also engaging the supporting part of said valve carrier, saidspring having its inner end ortion movable under tension by saidpositioning member back and forth across the carrier to opposite sidesof a radial line extending from the pivot axis of said carrier throughsaid spring supporting part.

17. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motor casing,spaced piston elements therein, a rack member connecting said pistonelements, said casing having a shaft bearing, a rock shaft journaled inthe bearing and having its opposite ends extending therefromunsupported, the outer end adapted for operating a wiper part, a gearelement secured to the inner end of the shaft and meshing with the rackmember against movement axially of the shaft, said gear element abuttingthe adjacent end of the shaft bearing and held thereagainst by said rackmember, said casing also having fluid orts, a valve cooperating withsaid ports For operatively admitting fluid pressure to the opposite endsof the casing, and means 0 erable by and during movement of the pistonfor actuating said valve.

18. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motor casing,spaced piston elements therein, a rack member connecting said pistonelements, said casing having a shaft bearing, a rock shaft journaled inthe bearing and having its opposite ends extending therefromunsupported, the outer end adapted for operating a wiper part, a gearelement secured to the inner end of the shaft and meshing with the rackmember against movement axially of the shaft, said gear element abuttingthe adjacent end of the shaft bearing and held thereagainst by said rackmember, said casing also having fluid ports, a valve cooperating withsaid ports for operatively admitting fluid pressure to the opposite endsof .the casing, means for actuating the valve, and a connection betweensaid means and said gear element for operating said means, saidconnection being maintained operative by the meshing relation of saidgear element and said rack member.

19. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motor casing,spaced piston elements therein, a rack member connecting said pistonelements, said casing having a shaft bearing, a rock shaft journaled inthe bearing and having its opposite ends extending therefromunsupported, the outer end adapted for operating a wiper part, a gearelement secured to the inner end of the shaft and meshing with the rackmember against movement axially of the shaft, said gear element abuttingthe adjacent end of the shaft bearing and held thereagainst by said rackmember, said casing also having fluid ports, a valve cooperating withsaid ports for operatively admitting fluid pressure to the opposite endsof the casing, a positioning member, a valve carrier supporting saidvalve, spring means interposed between the valve carrier and thepositioning member and positionable by the latter for actuating thevalve carrier, and a detachable connection between said gear element andsaid positioning member whereby the latter is operable by and duringmovement of said gear element, said rack member holding said shaftagainst axial movement to maintain said connection operative.

20. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a motor casingpart having fluid ports and a shaft bearing, a rock shaft journaled inthe bearing, a gear element fixed on the inner end of the rock shaft andholding the same against outward displacement, valve mechanismcooperating with said ports for operatively admitting fluid pressure tothe motor and including an element having spaced shoulders, and a partcarried by said gear element and extending between said shoulders forengaging therewith to effect operation of the valve mechanism, said partbeing displaceable from between said shoulders upon inward, axialmovement of the shaft.

21. In a fluid pressure motor for Windshield cleaners, a motor casing, apiston therein having a power-transmitting member, said casing having ashaft bearing, a rock shaft journaled in the bearing and having itsopposite ends extending therefrom unsupported, a power element fixed onthe inner end of the shaft and operatively connected to saidpower-transmitting member for rocking the shaft, said ower-transmittingmember serving to hol the rock shaft and said power element againstmovement axially of the shaft, valve mechanism for operatively admittingfluid pressure to the opposite ends of the casing, 'and a part operableby said power element for actuating said valve mechanism, said partbeing held normally in a position to be operable and adapted to beoperatively disconnected from said Valve mechanism upon inward, axialmovement of the shaft in its bearing after said power-transmittingmember has been first disconnected from said power element.

In testimony. whereof, we afiix our signatures.

FREDERICK G. FOLBERTH. WILLIAM M. FOLBERTH.

